Rollable Fitness Mat

ABSTRACT

A mat, such as an exercise, yoga, an/or Pilates mat, that includes two bottom panels and a top layer, the panels being assembled in a manner that enables a user to roll the mat in a way that keeps an upper surface of the mat clean.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to exercise equipment, and in particular mats forexercise and activities such as yoga and Pilates.

Discussion of Prior Art

Many different styles of exercise involve the use of personal, rollablefitness mats. For example, various forms of yoga, Pilates, and/or Barretypically involve the use of a personal size exercise mat. It is alsocommon for people to bring their own personal mats to group classeswhere the mats are rolled for transportation, and people often roll themfor storage purposes even when used in a home setting.

In use, these mats often become somewhat dirty, either from a personsweating during exercise, or simply because such mats are usually placedon a ground or floor surface.

Exercise mats such as these are easy to clean but are difficult to rollup without soiling. Many people resort to using the thinner matsspecifically so that after they clean or use it, and they fold it inhalf before they roll it up. This is done so that dirt, cat hair, andother unpleasant things do not stick to the topside of the mat. Thisbecomes more difficult to do as the thickness of the mat increases andcan also causes creases in the mat and/or cause other damage orprematurely degrade the quality of the mat. What is needed, therefore,is a mat that may be rolled up in a manner that keeps at least one sideclean without damaging or otherwise degrading the quality of the mat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a unique way of cleaning and rolling up ayoga mat, Pilates mat or any other similar mat, in a manner that keepsat least one side of the mat clean. The invention includes 3 distinctcomponents that are combined in a manner that allows it to be foldedbefore being rolled tightly and efficiently, the fold keeping one sideof the mat clean while it is rolled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical orfunctionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mat showing the top, end, and sideof the mat in an unrolled and ready-to-use configuration, the top layerbeing transparent so as to illustrate the connection of the two bottompanels.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the top layer of the mat.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the two bottom panelsconnected together in an unrolled configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the two bottom panels folded together.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mat in a partially rolledconfiguration.

FIG. 6A is a top plan view showing a first embodiment of a connectionpattern for the bottom two panels.

FIG. 6B is a top plan view showing a second embodiment of a connectionpattern for the bottom two panels.

FIG. 6C is a top plan view showing a third embodiment of a connectionpattern for the bottom two panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferredembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not,however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete andwill fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in theart.

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a rollable mat 100 according to the invention,including a first bottom panel 10, a second bottom panel 20, and toplayer 30. The first panel 10 and second panel 20 each have an end 12,22, with interlocking members 14, 24, that enable the two panels 10, 20,to be connected to one another. The top layer 30 is affixed to an upperside of each panel 10, 20, to provide a comfortable surface and furthersecure the two panels 10, 20 to one another.

When the panels 10, 20, are connected and laid flat on a ground surface,the mat functions like any conventional exercise mat. However, when auser wishes to store or transport the mat, the mat has the two panels10, 20, that may be folded together, approximately folded in half, withthe interlocking member 12, 22, separating from one another and the toplayer 30 pressing against itself. In this configuration, the top surfaceis largely protected from exterior elements while the bottom surfaces ofthe panels 10, 20 are exposed both above and below the mat 100. Now, themat 100 may be rolled for storage and transport but while it is rolled,only the bottom surfaces of the panels 10, 20, are in contact with theground/floor surface and, as it rolls, portions of the bottom surfaceonly come into contact with other portions of the bottom surface suchthat the top surface remains clean.

More specifically, FIGS. 1, 3, and 6 a-6 c illustrate the bottom viewsof the two panels 10, 20, together. They have identical interlockingpatterns, similar widths and are likely to be different in length. Bothbottom panels 10, 20 come together at the points of the interlockingpatterns, with the patterns, or members 12, 22, configured to fittightly together but also be separable by use of a user's hands. Eachpanel has one of its four edges as the interlocking pattern while theother three sides are smooth and straight. The areas that are squared inby dotted lines in FIG. 1 represent one area where the two bottom panels10, 20 may affixed to the top layer, shown in FIG. 2 , most likely viaan adhesive such as silicon glue, rubber glue or another similarlysuitable type of adhesive that has pliability. Other top layer to bottompanel attachment arrangements are also suitable.

The bottom two panels 10, 20 may be comprised of, but are not strictlylimited to, foam, thermoplastic, or jute. Other similarly suitablematerials are also acceptable. It is important that both bottom panelsare approximately the same width. However, it is also important thateach panel is not the exact same length. Ideal offsets have been foundto be somewhere between 51%/49% and 55%/45%. For example, the lengthsmay be 37.5″ and 34.5″. The desired cuts vary in thickness and lengthbased on the intended purpose and particular user, e.g. taller users maywant a longer mat.

FIG. 2 illustrates the top layer 30, which is a thin layer of the yogamat that ultimately holds the two bottom panels together. This top layermay be comprised of thermoplastic, silicon and other various similarlysuitable materials and fabrics that are pliable and able to be rolled.

The rollable mat is much more desirable once the total thickness reachesupwards of 0.25 in-1 in, although the components come together and worktogether in the same manner at thinner and thicker dimensions.

The configuration of the two bottom panels and top layer allow the matto first be folded together, as shown in FIG. 4 , before being rolled upas shown in FIG. 5 . This method of folding and rolling thereby ensuresthat the entire surface that is folded onto itself remains clean as theother side is rolled off of a surface and against itself.

It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merelyillustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction ofthe rollable mat may be contemplated by one skilled in the art withoutlimiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mat comprising: a first panel and a secondpanel, the first panel having a first panel end and the second panelhaving a second panel end, each of the first panel end and second panelend having locking members that are configured to interlock with eachother; a top panel that is attached to upper surfaces of each of thefirst panel and the second panel; wherein the first panel and secondpanel are configured to connect to one another and lie flat on a surfaceor be separated from one another and folded such that a portion of thetop panel on the first panel is placed against a portion of the toppanel on the second panel so that the mat may be rolled.
 2. The mat ofclaim 1, the first panel and the second panel each having a width and alength, and wherein the width of the first panel is approximately thesame as the width of the second panel and the length of either the firstpanel or the second panel is longer than the length of the other of thefirst panel or the second panel.
 3. The mat of claim 1, wherein the toppanel is approximately the same size and shape as the first panel andthe second panel when the first panel and second panel are connected toone another.
 4. The mat of claim 1, wherein the top panel is attached tothe first panel and the second panel by an adhesive.
 5. A method ofrolling a mat comprising the steps of: providing a mat that includes afirst panel and a second panel, the first panel having a first panel endand the second panel having a second panel end, each of the first panelend and second panel end having locking members that are configured tointerlock with each other; placing the mat on a surface and interlockingthe locking members; folding either of the first panel or the secondpanel on the other of the first panel or the second panel to createfolded panels; rolling the folded panels.
 6. The method of claim 5wherein the mat further includes a top layer that is attached to anupper surface on each of the first panel and the second panel.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein either the first panel or the second panel islonger than the other of the first panel or the second panel.